In 1903 the government financed the building of the 3 ft narrow gauge Burtonport and Letterkenny Extension Railway from a head on junction with the Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway at Letterkenny to the fishing port of Burtonport in Northwest Donegal in Ireland. The line was approximately 50 miles long and because it took an inland route the extension railway bypassed all the main centres of population which were along the coast. On completion the extension line was operated by the Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway. Due to road traffic competition the line only lasted 37 years and Burtonport station was closed in 1940.

The model, allowing for space restrictions, is a near exact model of Burtonport Station. The station was built on a plateau blasted out of the granite cliffs and the sea shore. The town of Burtonport was situated about one quarter of a mile to the west of the station.

Virtually everything you see on the model has been scratched built from the narrow gauge track, to the buildings, and the rolling stock. For use on the extension railway the Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway famously built some very large 4-8-0 tender locomotives and some 4-8-4 tank engines which have also been modelled.

The Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway had a physical connection with another 3ft narrow gauge railway the County Donegal Railway at Letterkenny. Although there is no evidence of County Donegal Railway stock ever travelling as far over the extension railway to Burtonport we have used a little modellers licence to introduce the occasional Donegal Railcar for your enjoyment.

Please do not hesitate to ask the operators if you would like anymore information about Burtonport or Irish Railway Modelling.